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Antiviral

United States, Canada

2012

110 Min
Color
1.85:1
English
  • Currently 3.0/5 Stars.
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DIR Brandon Cronenberg

PROD Niv Fichman, Fraser Ash, Kevin Krikst

SCR Brandon Cronenberg

DP Karim Hussain

CAST Caleb Landry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Malcolm McDowell, Douglas Smith, Joe Pingue, Nicholas Campbell

ED Matthew Hannam

PROD DES Arvinder Grewal

MUSIC E.C. Woodley

Cannes (Un Certain Regard), Toronto (Special Presentations), AFI FEST (New Auteurs), CPH PIX (Family Business)

Synopsis

Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Biological communion – for a price. Syd also supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from the clinic in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills super sensation Hannah Geist, Syd becomes a target for collectors and rabid fans. He must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate. –Cannes Film Festival

Director

Original

Brandon Cronenberg

Brandon Cronenberg (born circa 1980) is a Canadian writer film director. He is the son of acclaimed director David Cronenberg.

He initially considered himself to be a “book nerd” growing up, who was interested in becoming a writer, painter or musician. He came to realize that film contained all those elements and attended film school.

His first feature film Antiviral debuted at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. Cronenberg re-edited the movie after the festival to make it tighter, trimming nearly six minutes out of the film. The revised film was first shown at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. —Wikipedia 

Wall

Displaying 4 of 36 wall posts.
Picture of This is Jake Kath

This is Jake Kath

6May13

Celebrity obsession, Vampirism, and corrupt federal drug association mix brilliantly well in this debut film! Papa Cronenberg better watch out for Baby Cronenberg because this flick shows more promise than the senior's earlier efforts. I think what I loved so much about the movie was the lengths someone would go to fulfill their media obsession. That definitely says more about our generation than Cosmopolis did.

Picture of Mathias Palmberg

Mathias Palmberg

3May13

Well made, interesting and unfortunately a bit boring. Cronenberg should have trimmed the film down to 80-90 minutes, then the narrative could have gotten some sorely needed momentum. The story, production work and acting are all great so it is a shame that the movie is let down by a director so in love with his own work that he forgets the importance of editing himself and his ideas. Still a good debut movie!

Picture of Sam Everett

Sam Everett

2May13

Just a brilliant debut film, you can really see the effect the Cronenberg name has. Beautifully subdued in it's body horror, I love the use of the theme of idol worship and the cult of celebrity.

Picture of buzhidao

buzhidao

30Apr13

unfortunately the movie cannot escape a "been there, done that" flavor. i honestly thought the trailer made a better short than the movie itself.

BOBBY BROWNE and Amy like this

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Displaying 5 of 55 fans.

Articles

Our roundup of essays and articles on this film.
W184

Cannes 2012. Days 4-5, Essential Reads

By Adam Cook on May 21, 2012

New films from past Palme d’Or winners Cristian Mungiu and Michael Haneke are among the latest to screen at Cannes.

read article

Riveting trailer for Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on August 9, 2012
“Have you started bleeding yet? From your mouth…” Brandon Cronenberg’s film Antiviral certainly carries the families DNA. It feels very much in the vein (pun intended) of either his father’s Shivers or
read on Twitchfilm.com

IFC Midnight Picks Up Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on June 7, 2012
Though specific release plans are not yet known, Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral has found itself a distribution home in the USA. Bloody Disgusting bring word that IFC Midnight have picked up the scifi
read on Twitchfilm.com

Watch A Clip From Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on May 24, 2012
Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral has proven to be one of the more challenging and divisive titles at Cannes this year – check the links below for Brian Clark’s positive take on it – and those wondering what
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2012 Review: Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on May 19, 2012
As a stomach-churning, jet-black satire of modern culture, Brandon Cronenberg’s Antiviral is a resounding success, and is directed with precision and conviction. However, for these very reasons, it’s also
read on Twitchfilm.com

Cannes 2012 Interview: Brandon Cronenberg talks ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on May 15, 2012
Antiviral marks the feature debut of the scion of one of the world’s most esteemed genre filmmakers. The film will be competing as part of the Un Certain Regard series, an immesely prestigious honor for
read on Twitchfilm.com

Fresh Images From Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on May 9, 2012
The 2012 edition of the Cannes Film Festival is getting a double dose of Cronenberg with father-son act David and Brandon each presenting feature films. In the case of Cronenberg Sr it’s his adaptation
read on Twitchfilm.com

Brandon Cronenberg Launching Debut Feature ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on April 26, 2012
There’s a new Cronenberg in town and he looks to be doing the family name proud.Brandon Cronenberg – son of David – has won notice in recent years with a pair of critically acclaimed short films, 2008’s
read on Twitchfilm.com

Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL Casts Up, Launches Principal Photography

By Twitchfilm.com on April 26, 2012
At the end of September Twitch brought word that Brandon Cronenberg – son of David – was preparing to launch production on his debut feature, Antiviral. And now word has arrived that the film has launched
read on Twitchfilm.com

Exclusive First Look At Brandon Cronenberg's ANTIVIRAL

By Twitchfilm.com on April 26, 2012
Like father, like son?Twitch has been keeping a very close eye on Antiviral, the debut feature of Brandon Cronenberg, over the past couple months. The son of David Cronenberg, Brandon appears to be taking
read on Twitchfilm.com

Lists

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Reviews

Displaying 1 of 1

Strange, but not strange enough

By MR. Univers​e on March 17, 2013

Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Biological communion – for a price. Syd also supplies illegal samples of…  read review

Forum

Displaying 1 discussion topic.

ANTIVIRAL's Brandon Cronenberg: The CFQ Interview

2 posts by 2 people about 1 month ago